Jury Returns Guilty Verdicts for Joseph Craig

A Geary County District Court jury has returned guilty verdicts for Joseph Craig, Junction City, on six counts, one of which was First Degree ( Felony ) Murder.

Craig was convicted in the January 2016 shooting death of David Phillips, 23, Manhattan at an 827 West 12th Street Apartment C location in Junction City.

According to County Attorney Krista Blaisdell, Craig was also found guilty of the lesser included offense of Intentional Second Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Robbery, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The jury returned the verdicts Tuesday after a full day of deliberation.

During the trial more than 20 witnesses were called to testify. The entire trial, ending with the return of the verdicts by the jury, covered seven days in District Court.

Sentencing in the case is set for April 17th at 2 p.m.

During the preliminary hearing in this case there was testimony that indicated that Phillips had been shot in the head three times.

A second defendant in this case, Gabrielle Williams, has been scheduled for sentencing February 20th at 10 a.m. According to the County Attorney Williams pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder.